Baby Monsters

Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church

Huge horrible deeds come from teeny tiny seeds.

If it can be cut off at the pass it won't come to pass.

Genesis 4

Cain's story could be titled Making A Murderer

The day started with a baby monster. 

It first manifested at church.

Your worship life impacts all your life.

It's possible to go to church and approach church in the wrong way.

It's possible for your worships to feel like :

1. Religious Obligation

Hebrews 11:4 by faith Abel...what is not said of Cain is anything about faith.

Genesis 4:5 It can be bright with joy if you will do what you should!

2, Jealous Frustration

Cain wants to be treated like a man of faith but he's not willing to be a man of faith.

He wants the outcome without the obedience.

He wants the perks without the process.

A lot of people want Christianity without the cross.

Salvation is not broad, it is narrow.

3. Wicked Action

Genesis 4:7 sin is lying at the door...but you can conquer it!!

Things crouch to seem smaller.

The nature of sin is to hide itself.

James 1:4 evil desires give birth

Sin will always take you further than you want to go, stay longer, and pay more.

Be a victor over your sin or you'll be a victim of your sin.

James 4:7 resist the devil and he will flee from you.

4. Gracious Provision

Wonderful Counselor asking all these questions

Where in my life am I harboring or justifying sin?

Nothing disinfects like sunshine.

Bring sin too light.

Cleanse me from secret sins and show me my baby monsters.

Levi Lusko talks with Blake Mycoskie (Toms Shoes founder)

This is a conversation between Levi and Blake, because of this I tried my hardest to differentiate who said what, but some things are unclear.

Levi - we have a dichotomy, we choose success OR we make a difference.
It's not bad to want to be successful. The greater the blessing can be, the greater I can give.

Blake - the more you're blessed with success the bigger platform to make an impact.

Levi - you looked at tired things and breathed new life into them.

Blake - how do we do things better than we ever have before?

Garth Brooks song, "I thank God for unanswered prayers."
We hope and pray for things and say why, why me, why not?
If I had won The Amazing Race I wouldn't have created Toms.

Never miss an opportunity to try something new.

Sometimes God whispers and sometimes He shouts!

Levi - over and over the Bible talks about be fruitful and multiply.

Blake - if you want to build a business that has a giving aspect either don't do it at all or go all in.

Constantly push yourself, surround yourself with thinkers and people who constantly push you out of your comfort zone. But also rest. "Get read because I'm going to shout again."

Best memories are when it was the hardest.

I ask myself two questions :
If not us, who?
If not now, when?

***********

I purchased Blake's book, "Start Something That Matters" and took just a couple notes...

If you did not have to worry about money, what would you do with your time?

What kind of work would you want to do?

What cause would you serve?

The End Of Christmas

Levi Lusko -- Fresh Life Church

The End Of Christmas

Matthew 2

Christmas is complicated.

There were over 300 prophecies He needed to fulfill.

There are four cities involved in Jesus' birth story.

As elaborate and ornate as the story is, there's also a lunatic who was trying to end Christmas.

Flee to Egypt.

1. Herod's Plan : The Death Of Jesus

Am I going to stay on my throne or am I going to recognize the King of kings?

Genesis 3:15 you will strike His heel, but He will crush your head.

Between Eden to Bethlehem we have the devil trying to not get his head crushed.

Revelation 12

Matthew 2:19 Herod died.

God can always make a way when there seems to be no way.

God's Plan : The Death Of Jesus

Christmas is not a compliment. Christmas is about God having to send us a Savior.

"Of my own I lay it down."

Philippians 2:8

The most heroic thing you can do is live your life as a servant.

God knew that through Christmas He could put an end to death.

Fresh Life Fortified Women's Group Notes

We did a video study through Propel Women and these are the notes I took.
Because multiple women talked I don't always have who said what...

Prayer Life
"Prayer moves God, and when God is moved He moves mountains!" Christine Caine

"It's not about who's praying, it's the One who hears." Mercy

"Prayer changes things." Bianca

"God cares about it ALL!" Christine

"Prayer is not a monologue, it's a dialogue. Sometimes you need to listen, too." Mercy


***

A different video :

Guilt tells you that you MADE a mistake. Shame tells you that you ARE a mistake.

God sees. He knows. He forgives. He redeems. And He restores.

What we don't reveal can't heal.

Choose compassion over comparison.

I Declare War : week 4

Levi Lusko -- Fresh Life Church

Fight Like A Wolf

Habakuk 1:6-8

Evening wolves

Cognitive horsepower cannot be going to worry and worship at the same time.

Worrying makes it worse.

This life is not a playground, it's a battleground.

2 Corinthians 10:305

1. Control The High Ground

Fight for the high ground!!

8 hours of sleep

8 glasses of water a day

8 first and last minutes of the day given to Jesus

Guard the first and the last.

When the devil gets a foothold he wants a stronghold.

Starve your fear, feed your faith!

The secret to a miserable life is to focus on yourself.

2. Fight Fire With Fire

The devil can't burn what's already burning.

3. Raise Your Voice

Gethsemane - the battle before the battle.

Matthew 26:30 "when they had sung a hymn"

When the devils trying to remind of your past, remind him of his future! 

I am on the winning team!

Worship is a weapon against darkness!

Worship doesn't win the war, worship is the war.

In the midst of it, who is at the center of your story?

Who is getting the glory?

4. Keep Showing Up

You are not the only one trying to win the war within.

I Declare War : week 3

Levi Lusko -- Fresh Life Church

Act Like A Wolf

Actions speak louder than words.

Faith without works is dead.

1 Thessalonians 5:5

You are a son of light and a daughter of day!!

Let's ACT like it!

Your daily activity should come from your new identity.

Associates that we keep.

Assess your ::

1. Pack

Not only warriors but nurturing.

They desire to belong.

Leadership is by example.

There is a sense of teamwork in a wolfpack.

A lone wolf has no protection.

"You are the average of your five closest friends."

2. Posture 

You do feel how you hold yourself.

Posture and feelings.

Posture and well-being.

Joel 3:10

Believing that you can change a weakness into a strength.

3. Pre-Game

What is your ritual to performing at your best?

4. Props

Exodus 17 

Journal

Gratitudes

Outfit yourself accordingly 

Don't act like something you're not. 

Act how God calls you to.

Don't do what you feel.

Do what's right.

Another note on posture :

Revelation 1:8

I am the Alpha and the Omega

Bow

I Declare War : week 2

Levi Lusko  -- Fresh Life Church

Speak Like A Wolf

Words are weighty.

What we're weaving on earth we're wearing in Christ.

If Jesus is the Lord of your life, then He needs to be the Lord of your lips too.

1. Your words impact other people.

2. Your words impact the future.

3. Your words impact you.

"Thank you."